Electrical socket adapter

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an electrical socket adapter for selectively providing electrical pins and insertion holes in different configurations, the adapter comprising a casing with openings in a front side of the casing and at least one pin holder being removably placed in the casing, wherein the pin holder comprises electrical pins being extendable through corresponding openings in the casing to protrude from the casing. It is the object of the present invention to provide an electrical socket adapter applicable to a variety of electrical standards and being yet still compact and convenient. This object is solved by an electrical socket adapter of the above mentioned type characterized in that at least one electrical pin being hinged on the pin holder to be selectively extractable from the pin holder, wherein in an operative position the electrical pin protrudes from a front side of the pin holder, and in a rest position, the electrical pin is at least partially retracted in the pin holder.

The present invention relates to an electrical socket adapter forselectively providing electrical pins and insertion holes in differentconfigurations, the adapter comprising a casing with openings in a frontside of the casing, and at least one pin holder being removably placedin the casing, wherein the pin holder comprises electrical pins beingextendable through corresponding openings in the casing to protrude fromthe casing.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,581 describes an electrical socket adapter of theabove-mentioned type. The adapter comprises a variety of single,variously embodied plug members. Each plug member has a plurality offixed metal prongs adapted for fastening to a certain standard electricsocket. The plug members further comprise a plurality of couplinggrooves around the periphery thereof to engage with coupling flangesradially inwardly disposed around a rear open side of a casing of theadapter. To fit different specifications subject to different electriccodes of different countries, a respective large number of correspondingplug members has to be provided which makes handling and deposition ofthis adapter rather unwieldy.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an electricalsocket adapter applicable to a variety of electrical standards and beingyet still compact and convenient.

The object is solved with an electrical socket adapter of theabove-mentioned type characterized in that at least one electrical pinbeing hinged on the pin holder to be selectively ejectable from the pinholder, therein in a operative position the electrical pin protrudesfrom a front side the pin holder, and in a rest position the electricalpin is at least partially retracted in the pin holder.

This adapter allows that, in the operative position, only this at leastone electrical pin protrudes from the casing which has been selected bythe operator whereas the non-selected electrical pins are stored atleast partially in the pin holder in their rest position. To formanother configuration, the operator has only to retract a non-used pinfrom its operative position to its rest position and to further selectat least another pin to extract it from its rest position to itsoperative position. This way, a reservoir of pins necessary to form anyplug can be formed in the pin holder in a space saving way resulting ina compact but nearly universal electrical socket adapter.

In an embodiment of the invention the at least one electrical pin ishinged by a ball-and-socket joint. The ball and socket joint provides afulcrum around which the electrical pin can easily be brought at leastinto the operative position and the rest position.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the electrical pin hasa mounting end with a bore hole engaging with a ball being providedbetween the bore hole and a hemispheric socket of the pin holder toallow a pivotal movement of the electrical pin from at least the restposition to the operative position and vice versa. By this construction,the electrical pin can be pivoted and can be guided at least to theoperative position and the rest position.

According a further embodiment of the invention, the electrical pin hasa spherical mounting end engaging with a hemispherical socket of the pinholder to allow a pivotal movement of the electrical pin at least fromthe rest position to the operative position and vice versa and/or toallow a rotating movement of the electrical pin around an axis parallelto its longitudinal axis. This makes it possible not only to bring theelectrical pin to a certain rest position or a certain operativeposition but also to turn the electrical pin around its longitudinalaxis to adjust a certain orientation of the cross-section of theelectrical pin in at least these positions.

In a preferable embodiment of the invention, the at least one electricalpin is hinged on a shaft to allow a pivotal movement of the electricalpin perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. This hinged jointprovides a guided movement of the electrical pin around the shaft atleast from the rest position to the operative position and vice versa.Optionally, this construction offers the possibility to hinge more thanone pin on the shaft.

In a further preferable embodiment of the invention, the electrical pinhas a mounting end with a bore hole through which the shaft is extended.This allows a stable rotary connection between the electrical pin andthe shaft.

According to a favorable embodiment of the invention, the electrical pinhas a mounting end with a springy arm provided to clutch the shaft inthe rest position of the electrical pin and to clutch a spline at thefront side of the pin holder in the operative position of the electricalpin. This construction permits a stable rotary connection between theelectrical pin and the shaft during pivoting of the electrical pin fromits rest position to a position in which the electrical pin can beremoved from the shaft. It makes it further possible to remove theelectrical pin from the shaft by expanding the springy arm. Then, theelectrical pin can be secured by means of the springy arm on the splineat front side of the pin holder to be in its operative position.Further, the electrical pin can be removed from its operative positionby expanding the springy arm from the spline and can be re-mounted onthe shaft.

According to another favorable embodiment of the invention, the at leastone pin holder comprises at least one ground pin holder and at least onephase pin holder. These pin holders can provide at least one ground pinand at least one phase pin, respectively. This makes it possible toretract or extract a pin of the ground pin holder independently from apin from the phase pin holder and vice versa.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, one ground pinholder is sandwiched by two phase pin holders, wherein the ground pinholder is electrically insulated from the phase pin holder. With thisconstellation, plugs with different electrical pin configurations can beprovided which are connectable with grounded and ungrounded sockets.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the ground pin holder has aplurality of ground pins and/or the phase pin holder has a plurality ofphase pins. This offers the possibility to realize a nearly universaladapter which can be connected with various types of grounded orungrounded sockets.

In yet another preferable embodiment of the invention, the adapterfurther comprises a pin insertion tool consisting of at least two metalcheeks with corresponding opposite recesses, wherein the metal cheeksare connected by at least one spring bringing the corresponding recessestogether forming pin insertion holes. In the insertion holes, pins of aplug can be received to form an electrical connection between the plugand the pin insertion tool. The cheeks which are pressed together by thetension of the spring can hold closely a pin inserted in one of theinsertion holes resulting in a good electrical contact between the pinand the pin insertion tool. On the other hand, by this device, theinserted pin is easy to unplug, from the pin insertion tool.

In yet a further embodiment of the invention, the casing comprises afirst hollow shell and a second hollow shell, each being of aninsulating material, wherein the first hollow shell being formed tohouse the at least one pin holder and the second hollow shell beingformed to house at least one pin insertion tool, and wherein the shellsare provided to be assembled such that an electrical connection betweenthe pin holder and the pin insertion tool is formed, and to bedisassembled such that the electrical connection is disconnected. Thetwo shells facilitate a concentration of different kinds of electricalstandards in one adapter device. A further advantage of thisconstruction is that the at least one pin holder can be independentlyconfigured from the at least one pin insertion tool and vice versa.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a fuse is placedbetween the at least one pin holder and at least one pin insertion tool,when an electrical connection between the pin holder and the pininsertion tool is formed. The fuse protects the adapter from electricaloverloads.

In yet a further preferable embodiment of the invention, the casingcomprises a plug guide being slidable on a second hollow shell formed tohouse at least one pin insertion tool to provide a reciprocatingmovement of the plug guide relative to the hollow shell along alongitudinal axis of the second hollow shell. With this construction aguidance can be formed to facilitate insertion and/or unplugging of aplug in the pin insertion tool.

The embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent fromthe following description with regard to the accompanying drawings inwhich

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an adapter of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first hollow shell of the adapter ofFIG. 1 showing a front side of the first hollow shell;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first hollow shell of FIG. 2 showinga back side of the first hollow shell;

FIG. 4 shows a ground pin holder 3 being inserted in the first hollowshell of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 shows a first part of the ground pin holder shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a second part of the ground pin holder shown in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7 to 11 show different kinds of ground pins used in the ground pinholder of FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 shows a micro-shaft used in the ground pin holder of FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 shows a phase pin holder being inserted in the first hollowshell shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 14 shows a phase frame of the phase pin holder of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 shows a phase pin connecting member of the phase pin holder ofFIG. 13;

FIGS. 16–21 show phase pins used in the phase pin holder of FIG. 13;

FIG. 22 shows a first pin insertion tool;

FIG. 23 shows a first metal cheek of the first pin insertion tool shownin FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 shows a second metal cheek of the first pin insertion tool ofFIG. 22;

FIG. 25 shows a second pin insertion tool;

FIG. 26 shows a first metal cheek of the second pin insertion tool ofFIG. 25;

FIG. 27 shows a second metal cheek of the second pin insertion tool ofFIG. 25;

FIG. 28 shows a staple spring used in the second pin insertion tool ofFIG. 25;

FIG. 29 shows a fuse being inserted between the second pin insertiontool shown in FIG. 25 and the phase pin holder shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 30 shows a metal connection between another second pin insertiontool shown in FIG. 25 and between another phase pin holder shown in FIG.13;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a second hollow shell of the adaptershown in FIG. 1 showing a back side of the second hollow shell;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the second hollow shell of FIG. 31showing a front side of the second hollow shell;

FIG. 33 shows a plug guide of the adapter shown in FIG. 1 with a view ofthe back side of the plug guide;

FIG. 34 shows the plug guide of FIG. 33 with a view of the front side ofthe plug guide;

FIG. 35 shows a conductive bar placed between the plug guide shown inFIGS. 33 and 34 and the second hollow shell shown in FIGS. 31 and 32;

FIG. 36 shows a plastic cover of the plug guide shown in FIG. 34;

FIG. 37 shows a flat plate used in the plug guide shown in FIG. 34;

FIG. 38 shows a conductive pipe used in the plug guide shown in FIG. 34;

FIG. 39 shows a further embodiment of the adapter of the presentinvention, the adapter having an additional adapter unit; and

FIG. 40 shows the additional adapter unit of FIG. 39.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an adapter 100 of the present invention.This adapter can accept nearly all plug standards while it can notinclude the Swiss outlet standard [L] as well as the Denmark outlet [E]ground pin.

The shown adapter 100 has a simple and compact octagonal shape with around protruded body like the standard [F] used in the France andGermany. The adapter 100 has a casing which comprises a first hollowshell 1, a second hollow shell 91 and a plug guide 93, each being madeof a plastic material. The first hollow shell 1 and the second hollowshell 91 are fastened together by means of a locknut 98. The plug guide93 is slidably engaged with the second hollow shell 91 such that theplug guide 93 can perform a limited stroke sliding between two fixedpositions along the longitudinal axis of the second hollow shell 91.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the first hollow shell 1 of FIG. 1showing a front side 87 of the first hollow shell 1. The front side 87of the first hollow shell 1 forms a face panel provided with a set ofshaped openings 2. Through the openings 2 corresponding pins areextandable to form the requested plugs.

FIG. 3 shows the first hollow shell 1 shown in FIG. 2 from its back side88. The back side forms a back panel containing three insulating rooms103, 104, 105.

FIG. 4 shows a ground pin holder 3 being located in operation in theinsulating room 104 of the first hollow shell 1 of FIG. 3. The groundpin holder 3 can be pulled out of the insulating room 104 when a plugshould be performed. On the ground pin holder 3 pins 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 areassembled which equip the requested plug. The pins 4, 5, 6, 8 shown inFIG. 4 are in their rest position located along suitable slots in theground pin holder 3.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a first metal cheek 14 and a second metal cheek 15,respectively, of the U-formed ground pin holder 3 of FIG. 4. The twometal cheeks 14, 15 are locked and pressed together by two springyfasteners 16 keeping the ground pins 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 between the metalcheeks in suitable slots and housings of inner side walls of the metalcheeks in their rest position and allow the removal turning and pivotingof the ground pins to their operative position.

A first U-beam 10 of the ground pin holder 3 comprises about in itsmiddle part of its inner side wall a hemispherical socket 17. The firstU-beam further comprises ground splines 20 on its outer side walls nearthe front side 13 of the ground pin holder 3. A second U-beam 11 of theground pin holder 3 comprises a finger tip-formed recess 9. The secondU-beam further comprises a pair of hemispherical sockets 19 beingprovided opposite to each other on the inner side walls of the two metalcheeks 14, 15 near the front side 13 of the ground pin holder 3. Nearthe open front side 13, the U-beams 10, 11, comprise cylindricalrecesses forming a shaft housing 18, as well as a socket of Frenchstandard [F] 18 a.

FIGS. 7 to 11 show different kinds of round pins 4 to 8 used in theground pin holder 3 of FIG. 4.

A first ground pin 4 is knifelike shaped. A knife edge like part 21 ofthe first ground pin 4 is out of line to a knife handle like part 22 andthe longitudinal axis of the first ground pin 4. The first ground pin 4further comprises a mounting end 24 having a bore hole 25. The firstground pin 4 is hinged on the ground pin holder 3 by a ball-and-socketjoint wherein a ball is inserted between the bore hole 25 and the socket17 of the first metal cheek 14 of the ground pin holder 3. Therefore, itcan pivot 180° around the ball perpendicular to a parallel axis of thefirst U-beam of the ground pin holder 3, assuming the position suitablefor standards [C], [P], [X] and [T].

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a second ground pin 5 and a third ground pin 6,respectively, suitable for the standards [I], [J], [K] and [M]. The pinshave rod-shaped projections 26, 29 and prismatic mounting ends 27, 30with bore holes 28, 31.

FIG. 10 shows an extractable prismatic fourth ground pin 7 suitable fornew Indian standard [Bs 546]. The fourth ground pin can be insertedbetween the two prismatic heads 16 of the ground pin holder 3. Itcomprises a thick U-shaped plate with a rounded edge and a mounting end.The mounting end has two springy arms 34 to pinch the fourth ground pin7 on a micro-shaft 39 which is described with reference to FIG. 12. Thespringy arms 34 allow pivoting of the fourth ground pin around themicro-shaft 39 until to reach its rest position between the secondground pin 5 and the third ground pin 6. The fourth ground pin 7, whenrequested, must be pulled away from the micro-shaft 39 and inserted bythe two springy arms 34 in the proper ground splines 20 onto the groundpin holder 3 taking the right ground operative position for the standard[Bs 546].

FIG. 11 shows a fifth ground pin 8 having the form of a thickerelongated plate 35 with a graded tip 36. The fourth ground pin comprisesa mounting end 37 with a small spherical extension 38. The extension islocated between the corresponding sockets 19 in the first and the secondmetal cheek 14, 15 of the ground pin holder 3. The fifth ground pin 8can turn and pivot to all positions including turning around its ownaxis realising both [D] and [H] standards.

The ground pins 5, 6, 7 match with a microshaft 39 shown in FIG. 12located in the shaft housing 18 in the middle of the ground pin holder3. The shaft 38 has an upper drilled head that has fitted a small doublenail head acting as a rotation axis and fastener for the pins. On themicro-shaft 39 two prismatic mounting ends of the pins 5 to 7 aremounted allowing their rotation perpendicular the axis of the shaft 39.

In a middle position 40 of the microshaft 9, the two rectangularmounting ends 30 and 27 of the second and the third ground pin 5, 6 arelocated in a small round room of the mounting end 27 of the secondground pin 5 one O-ring is fitted. When the mounting ends 27, 31 arefaced to each other and fitted up unto the microshaft 39, the O-ringpresses the mounting ends against the ground pin holder 3 and enableselectrical contact between the ground pins 5, 6 and the ground pinholder 3.

FIG. 13 shows one phase pin holder 42, two of which aremirror-invertedly inserted in the insulating rooms 103, 105 of the firsthollow shell 1. The phase pin holder 42 comprises a face frame 43 shownin FIG. 14, and a plurality of phase pins 45 to 50 being hinged on adrilled extension 44 shown in FIG. 15.

FIGS. 16 to 21 show different types of phase pins 45 to 50. The phasepins 45, 46, 47, 49, 50 comprise mounting ends 54, 57, 60, 66 and 69with bore holes 65, 58, 61, 67, 70.

FIG. 15 shows a phase pin connecting member 44 with a shaft 106 and twomounting ends on each end of the shaft 106 with bore holes 51, 52. Theshaft 106 extends through the bore holes 61, 58 of the phase pins 46,47. One mounting end with the bore hole 52 is fitted up by a specialarticulated joint holding the phase pin 48 shown in FIG. 19 which isfitted up by means of a locking screw.

One side of the mounting end 60 of the phase pin 47 holds in a smallround room 107 an O-ring. A nail extends through the bore hole 70 of thephase pin 50 shown in FIG. 21, and through a bore hole 52 of theconnecting member 44 of FIG. 15 and through the articulated joint and isfastened with the locking screw. A further nail extends through the borehole 67 of the phase pin 49 shown in FIG. 20, further through a hole 51of the connecting member 44 and through the bore hole 55 of the phasepin 45 shown in FIG. 16 and is fastened with a further nail.

FIG. 22 shows a first pin insertion tool 71 fitted up suitable toreceive ground pins of different standards. The first pin insertion toolconsists of two metal cheeks 72, 73, shown in FIG. 23 and FIG. 24,pressed together by means of staple springs 75 which enable anelectrical contact between plugged pins and the adapter 100.

FIG. 25 shows one of two second pin insertion tools 78 sandwiching thefirst pin insertion tool 71. The second pin insertion tool consists oftwo metal cheeks 79, 80 shown in FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 pressed together bymeans of a staple spring 81 shown in FIG. 28.

The first and the second pin insertion tools 71, 78 give electricalcontinuity to the ground pin holder 3 and the phase pin holders 42through a set of four round extractable boxes 108, 109 and a flat bladespring 74. The fourth small extractable round boxes 108, 109 are locatedin rooms 110 of the second hollow shell 91 shown in FIG. 31. When plugis assembled, the four small extractable round boxes 108, 109, arepressed between the face frame 43 and the face frame 111.

Each round box 108, 109 consists of two cheeks, one conductive andanother one insulating, squeezing tips of one metal bar 113 and the tipsof a fuse 112. The boxes 108, 109, if properly oriented enable currentflow through the fuse 112 and the metal bar 113.

Grounding continuity is assured through a flat spring 74 kept againstthe first pin insertion tool 71 by two staple springs 75. When plug isassembled, springy edges of the flat spring 74 get in touch with thefirst pin insertion tool 71 with ground pin holder 3.

FIGS. 31 and 32 show the second hollow shell 91 ending on one side, witha face panel 102 provided with a set of shaped insertion holes 114 ableto receive different plugs accepted by the adapter 100 two prongs 115intergrow with this panel protrude out the face of the second hollowshell 91. On the opposite side 92, the second hollow shell 91 ends witha threaded crown 84 which matches with the lock nut 98. On the back side92, the second hollow shell 91 comprises 3 openings to insulating rooms82, 83, 84 where the first pin insertion tool 71 and the second pininsertion tools 78 are fitted up suitable to receive phase and groundpins of different standards. Further, two prongs 86 integral with theface panel 102 protrude out of the face panel 102 of the second hollowshell 91.

FIGS. 33 and 34 show a backside and a frontside of the plug guide 93,respectively. On an inner surface of the plug guide 93, two metalconductive bars 116, shown in FIG. 35, are assembled ending on one sidewith the contact heads 117 and on the other side with scraping prongs118. Doing a backing stroke of the plug guide, the scraping prongs 118move into two opened slots 119 of the second hollow shell 91 scrapingalong upper recessed edges 120 of the first pin insertion tool 71pressed together by the staple springs 75 while the contact head 117scrapes along ground strips allowing electrical contact between theadapter 100 and a plug.

Integral with a frontside 121 of the plug guide opposite to tongues 122,there are two shaped slots 123 acting as guide for the insertion of aplug.

On a lower part of the frontside 121 of the plug guide 93 are plasticcover 95 shown in FIG. 36 is fitted up and is duly drilled to receive aground pin of a plug. The backside of a plastic cover 95 contains in aproper room a conductive flat plate 96 shown in FIG. 37, ending in itsupper part, with a slot inserted onto the lower contact head 117. Thelower part of the flat plate 96 is drilled to enable an insertion ofground pins of a plug.

The flat plate 96 when the plastic cover 95 is fitted to the plug guide93 pushes against a contact pipe 97 located into a proper guide of pinhole or plug. The contact pipe 97 ends with a scraping blade 124integral with the pipe and protruding inside the pipe room. Clearancebetween the scraping blade 124 and the hole size should not allowinsertion of ground pins of other plug but forcing them inside theholes, the scraping blade 124 bends itself and enables to plug the pinsgiving ground continuity through the contact pipe 97, the flat plate 96,the contact heads 117, the flat spring 74 and the ground pin holder 3.

The backside 125 of the plug guide 93 contains 4 blind chambers 126acting as storerooms for another set of extractable boxes 108 and 109suitable for the European standard and fuses as well. Proper round corks127 plug each blind chamber 126.

To fit the plug guide 93 onto the second hollow shell 91, prongs 128 ofthe plug guide 93 are put onto prongs 115. Then the plug guide 93 ispressed against the second hollow shell 91 until the prongs 115 push outaside the prongs 128 bending springy tongues 122 getting over the prongs115 of the second hollow shell 91. Now, the plug guide 93 can slide ontothe second hollow shell 91 ending the stroke against the threaded crown134.

FIG. 39 shows a further embodiment of an adapter of the presentinvention wherein the adapter 100 shown in FIG. 1 has an additionaladapter unit 101. The adapter of FIG. 39 supports all electrical plugstandards except for Israel [H] and for the Russian Republic [O],respectively. The additional adapter unit 101 is shown in FIG. 40. Itcan be plugged directly in the Swiss standard [L]. It comprises aplastic body 129 with a suitable cover 130. In the plastic body 129there are three rooms where round metal contact frames are fitted up.

Two frames in the front part of the plastic body 129 protrude with twophase pins 132 for standards [A] and [F], respectively. A third metalcontact frame similar to the above mentioned ends with a ground pin 133for the standard [I] that protrudes as well from the plastic body 129.

Back to FIG. 39, the pins are received in respective openings in theback face panel 125 of the plug guide 93 to perform the Swiss standard.The backside of the additional adapter unit 101, 130 (in FIG. 40) canreceive phase pins of different standards through holes 131 of the cover1.

1. An electrical socket adapter (100) for selectively providingelectrical pins and insertion holes in different configurations, theadapter comprising: a casing with openings (2) in a front side (87) ofthe casing and at least one pin holder (3) being removably placed in thecasing, wherein the pin holder comprises electrical pins beingextendable through corresponding openings in the casing to protrude fromthe casing, characterized in that at least one electrical pin beinghinged on the pin holder (3) to be selectively extractable from the pinholder, wherein in an operative position, the electrical pin protrudesfrom a front side (13) the pin holder, and in a rest position, theelectrical pin is at least partially retracted in the pin holder.
 2. Theadapter of claim 1, wherein at least one electrical pin is hinged by aball-and-socket joint.
 3. The adapter of claim 2, wherein the electricalpin has a mounting end (94) with a bore hole (25) engaging with a ballbeing provided between the bore hole and a hemispheric socket (17) ofthe pin holder (3) to allow a pivotal movement of the electrical pinfrom at least the rest position to the operative position and viceversa.
 4. The adapter of claim 2, wherein the electrical pin has aspherical mounting end (38) engaging with a hemispherical socket (19) ofthe pin holder (3) to allow a pivotal movement of the electrical pin atleast from the rest position to the operative position and vice versaand/or to allow rotating movement of the electrical pin around an axisparallel to its longitudinal axis.
 5. The adapter of claim 1, whereinthe at least one electrical pin is hinged an a shaft (39) to allow apivotal movement of the electrical pin perpendicular to a longitudinalaxis of the shaft.
 6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the electrical pinhas a mounting end (27, 30) with a bore hole (28, 31) through which theshaft (39) is extended.
 7. The adapter of claim 6, wherein theelectrical pin has a mounting end with a springy arm (34) provided toclutch the shaft (39) in the rest position of the electrical pin and toclutch a spline at the front side (13) of the pin holder (3).
 8. Theadapter of claim 1 wherein the at least one pin holder (3) comprises atleast one ground pin holder (3) and at least one phase pin holder (42).9. The adapter of claim 8, wherein one ground pin holder (3) issandwiched by two phase pin holders (42), and wherein the ground pinholder is electrically insulated from the phase pin holders.
 10. Theadapter of claim 8 wherein the ground pin holder (3) has a plurality ofground pins (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) and/or the phase pin holder (42) has aplurality of phase pins (45, 46, 47,48, 49, 60).
 11. The adapter ofclaim 1 wherein the adapter further comprises a pin insertion tool (71,78) comprising at least two metal cheeks (72, 73; 79, 80) withcorresponding opposite recesses wherein the metal cheeks are connectedby at least one spring (75, 81) bringing the corresponding recessestogether forming pin insertion holes (114).
 12. The adapter of claim 1wherein the casing comprises a first hollow shell (1) and a secondhollow shell (91), each being of an insulating material wherein thefirst hollow shell being formed to house the at least one pin holder (3)and the second hollow shell being formed to house at least one pininsertion tool (71, 78) and wherein the shells are provided to beassembled such that an electrical connection between the pin holder andthe pin insertion tool is formed, and to be disassembled such that theelectrical connection is disconnected.
 13. The adapter of claim 1wherein a fuse (112) is placed between the at least one pin holder (3)and at least one pin insertion tool (71, 78) when an electricalconnection between the pin holders and the pin insertion tool is formed.14. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the casing comprises a plug guide(93) being slideable on a second hollow shell (91) formed to house atleast one pin insertion tool (71, 78) to provide reciprocating movementof the plug guide relative to the second hollow shell along alongitudinal axis of the second hollow shell.